MEHEM - the Mass Effect (3) Happy Ending Mod - No more star kid, no more deaths and a reunion

MrFob

Posted 03 November 2012 - 09:35 PM

MrFob

Members

4,482 posts

G'day guys,

Ok, I should probably preface this by saying that this is not really my preferred ending for several reasons (I rather like the MEEM mod myself) but lot's and lot's of people have been asking for something like this on the forums, on youtube and via PM so I thought I'd sit down and try to do this. It took me about 4 weeks to figure everything out and make all of this and I burned a couple of barrels of midnight oil in the process but it's finally done. So, this one is for you guys. I hope some of you will enjoy it.

Now, for the important stuff:
What is MEHEM?
MEHEM is short for the Mass Effect (3) Happy Ending Mod. It significantly changes the ending, kicking in right after Anderson's death scene (or Shepard's quiet moment if Anderson is dead).
UPDATE: Ever since v0.2 it actually has the first modded scenes during the beam run sequence at the end of "Priority Earth".

If you want to see what it's all about without getting spoiled too much, watch the MEHEM trailer! All thanks and credit for this video go to Tim van Kan a.k.a. Tim Skijwalker.

Simply open the installer and follow the instructions to install the mod.

If you wish to revert to the original endings, you can simply uninstall MEHEM v0.5 through windows control panel, as you would with any other piece of software.

If you encounter problems while running the mod, check this FAQ. If you can't solve your problem with the information in there, feel free to post here.

The installer is stand alone and does not require any extra fileslast mod update: 24. 02. 2015

The mod works with all DLCs and the current version of the game (1.5.5427.124) as of the the date of the last update above.
You will need to have the Extended Cut DLC installed for the mod to work.
Also, you won't get banned for using this modA note for all who want to run MEHEM in combination with texture mods: With the current version of ME3Explorer (May 2014 and later), the correct procedure to combine MEHEM with texture mods is to install MEHEM first onto a vanilla game and afterwards run the tree-scan for textures.

What does MEHEM do in detail (obvious spoiler warning)?
- It determines your ending based on your EMS score.
- It removes the catalyst scene. No ifs, not buts. It's gone for good. (So is your choice, you will now destroy the reapers no matter what)
- It introduces a whole new scene showing how Joker disobeys orders and keeps the Normandy in the fight long enough for Shepard to be rescued (with the help of a certain Alliance captain )
- The Normandy no longer crash-lands on the Weirdo Planet
- The Geth and EDI survive. EDI is now present during the memorial and new slides were added to the epilogue that will show the geth, if they are alive. All credit and thanks for the slides goes to areyouareaper!
- The epilogue slides now show survivors on the Citadel, most prominently Aria and Cpt. Baley. All thanks and credit for this new slide goes to Alienmorph!
- You will see your Shepard reunited with his crew (and even some interaction unique to your LI if the LI is part of the Normandy crew). While they don't exactly have a party, now it is a real bitter-sweet ending with the emphasis on "sweet" rather than on "bitter"
- The musical score is changed quite extensively, including the credits song
- Since by the time of v0.3, quite a few people have contributed to this mod, I implemented some MEHEM credits in the stargazer scene.
- Since v0.2, Harbinger will say a few lines during the beam run
And that's it.

Please note: I could only test this mod with a limited number of savegames (thanks to everyone who provided one) so I could not accurately test it for any eventuality (in terms of LIs, squat-mates, etc.). It may well be that there are still bugs and weird occurrences happening. Please tell me about any oddities you might encounter, I plan to improve this mod so that eventually it will work as seamlessly as possible.

You can customise some small aspects of the mod in an easy fashion. Check outthis tutorial for details (will be updated occasionally)

There are some great additions and "mods of the mod" by now, which you might want to check out:
- Extended Anderson Conversation by JohnP restores the cut content in the final conversation between Anderson and Shepard (to run this with MEHEM properly, dowload the mod and the MEHEM music fix here)
- Miri/Jack LI hug, also by JohnP includes Miranda/Jack in the memorial scene if they are Shep's LI
- Deager's version of MEHEM v0.4 offers yet more music choices as well as some scene edits

Other story mods that go well with MEHEM:
- CEM - The Citadel Epilogue Mod by Deager, changes the Citadel DLC to work as an epilogue that can be played after the endings (it removes references to the reaper and Cerberus war from the dialogue)
- ThaneMOD, for all the Thane fans out there who want their favourite Drell to survive ME3 is available in a version that works with MEHEM

MEHEM v0.5 changelog (24. 02. 2015):
New features and improvements:
- The mod is now a DLC
- JohnP's additional LI mod is implemented
- New final Normandy flyby scene (the one that is already on yt)
- Adjustments to the credits
Fixes:
- Most problems with the installer should be a thing of the past, since MEHEM is now a DLC
- NG+ not working after playing through MEHEM is fixed
- Subtitles (speaker names) are fixed
- Video timing has been slightly adjusted
- Emails are corrected for spelling/grammar (thnaks to RPGenius and giftfish)
- Cpt. Fob's email now triggers properly
- If you want to combine MEHEM with JohnP's extended Anderson conversation mod, the music fix is no longer necessary

MEHEM v0.4 changelog (24. 10. 2013):
- MEHEM now features 2 very different endings. Which one you will see depends on you EMS score
- The high EMS ending has been improved with new custom made videos, created by Mr Fob and SlipperyHammer
- Upon installation of MEHEM v0.4, you can now choose between the old v0.3 soundtrack and an entirely new and original soundtrack, composed and provided by sH0tgUn jUliA
- The slides for Miranda and Jack will now show during the epilogue, with Miranda having a new slide, provided by Poly Morph
- Miranda's and Jack's final moment after the memorial scene have been remade
- You will now get a couple of additional emails throughout the game*, courtesy of frypan, as well as an additional action at the SPECTRE terminal on the Citadel
- Adjusted the credits to account for all the people who came in to help on the project
- There is one more secret addition (found by now). If you find something unexpected while playing, report it on the forums.

*) Most of the emails will automatically be added to your terminal all at once if you load a save just before "Priority: Earth" (if your Shepard meets the conditions for getting them). However, it is recommended to play through the game to receive them at the proper time. Also, there is one email which you will only get when playing from the beginning.

Bug fixes:
- Fixed some minor timing issues during the high EMS endings
- Fixed a bug that could dump the player in the wrong memorial scene under certain circumstances
- Fixed the occasional overlapping of Traynor's model with Ash/Kaidan during the non-hugging memorial scene

MEHEM v0.3 changelog (08. 03. 2013):
New features and improvements:
- Jack and Miranda now have individual farewell videos (thanks to areyouareaper for the slides)
- New slide with citadel survivors (thatnks to Alienmorph for the new slide)
- A couple of new and colour corrected scenes for the videos (thnaks to Bierwichtel for the new shuttle landing scene)
- The game now detects automatically if you saved the geth or not and shows the appropriate slides. No more manual file changes are required
- Stargazer scene now features MEHEM credits

Bug fixes:
- EDI slide can no longer show up during the epilogue
- Shepard-hands and Garrus-hug clipping issues improved
- Female animations for male Shepard removed
- Hackett's cut lines during the beam transport cutscene are back in
- Sound adjustments for the videos
- Lip synching improved during the videos (still not perfect though)
- Took care of some video formatting issues. Videos should now be of slightly better quality
- Sound balance during the videos adjusted. This is still work in progress though, please tell me if you think something is drastically too loud or quiet. Keep in mind though that the audio during the new cutscenes is dependent on you sound SFX volume setting (dialogue in those cutscenes included).

MEHEM v0.2 changelog (24. 11. 2012):
- Shepard now wears his uniform at the memorial scene (s/he still has and injured face but if you play default Shep, it's partially healed. Custom Sheps are in the same condition as during the mission)
- EDI is no longer on the memorial wall and is present during the memorial (she replaces Javick, who is already taken off to that nebula he wanted to see). Note: EDI should be there even if you don't have from Ashes but it would be nice if someone could confirm that.
- New add-in dialogue slides have been added for the casses that the Geth and Quarians made peace and also for the case that the player supported the Geth and wiped out the Quarians. Credit for these new slides goes to areyouareaper! Thank you!
- Harbinger now speaks a couple of lines during the beam run
- Shepards walking animations during the memorial scene are fixed to the best of my ability. Manly Shepard walks manly now. If you have a FemShep with a female LI/best friend, FemShep also has a manly walk but that doesn't look as awkward as MaleShep's female walk.
- Garrus facial expressions are fixed. His hugging scene is still clipping like hell though, That's something to fix for the next version
- Some minor clipping throughout the memorial scene is fixed (not all of it though)
- Shepard no longer carries a pistol during the memorial scene
- The pistol shot, you could hear after the pause in between the space battle videos is removed
- The sound mix of the videos has been slightly improved to make some of the dialogue easier to understand
- IGN logos have been removed from the videos and one repeating scene of Joker has been replaced with a new one

sentinel_87

Posted 03 November 2012 - 10:52 PM

sentinel_87

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265 posts

Based on my own experience in attempting to change the ending I can see how much work you put into this, very good job. I also see that you changed character models for the memorial scene. How exactly did you do this? As for Shepard looking bear up, your right the textures that Bioware applied to Shepard for the end of the game are pretty beat up look. I do not think there is a way to clean them up very well.

Also MrFob, if you check your other thread the zip file I have a link to may have some audio files that you find usefull.

The Exiled Paladin

Posted 03 November 2012 - 11:01 PM

MrFob

Posted 03 November 2012 - 11:06 PM

MrFob

Members

4,482 posts

Thanks guys, I am happy people like it.
Ok, so I do not change the models themselves, just their placement in the scene (I managed to feed the red ending into the green memorial scene for this purpose). The fact that Shepard looks so bad and still wears torn armour is because this particular look is set at the beginning of the mission (aka, after you get hit by the beam). It would be incredibly complex (and probably impossible at this point) to change that at the point of the memorial.

Charles Rosemberg

Posted 03 November 2012 - 11:21 PM

Charles Rosemberg

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106 posts

It would be really awesome if you make a version that leaves the original ending BUT you see your Shepard puting Anderson's plate in the Normandy...
You know, for people that liked the ending but wanted to see Shepard reunited with his/her love interest (like me)

dsl08002

Posted 03 November 2012 - 11:22 PM

Dr_Extrem

Posted 03 November 2012 - 11:22 PM

Dr_Extrem

Members

4,092 posts

MrFob wrote...

Thanks guys, I am happy people like it.Ok, so I do not change the models themselves, just their placement in the scene (I managed to feed the red ending into the green memorial scene for this purpose). The fact that Shepard looks so bad and still wears torn armour is because this particular look is set at the beginning of the mission (aka, after you get hit by the beam). It would be incredibly complex (and probably impossible at this point) to change that at the point of the memorial.

is it possible to let shepard switch to the default normandy casual wear, by altering the level order? ...

implement the memorial scene as a new "level", right after the last scene with anderson and let the still beaten shepard take on casual wear. it could bypass this "problem". just an idear.